Nutzung, Genetik und Züchtung kleinkörniger Hirsegräser: 5. Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]

The millet tef is being grown mainly in Ethiopia and Eritrea, East Africa, recently also in some other countries. With a production of 1.67 million tons and an acreage of 2.1 million hectares tef is the prevailing crop plant in Ethiopia. Among the numerous products from tef, the most important for the nutrition of the people is injera, a very soft flat bread. A broad genetic variability of qualitative and quantitative traits of the crop is available which is the basis for future progress in the improvement of drought tolerance, lodging resistance, quality and disease resistance. However, breeding efforts in the improvement of yield is urgently needed. Thus tef may contribute also in the future to the feeding of a rapidly growing population.